Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Would you do a routine lateral flow while on holiday?

27 replies

Donatella · 08/07/2021 20:43

I test twice weekly for work (NHS), our compliance gets monitored and we get texts and emails if we go too many days without texting. I have been very compliant so far (only missed 1 test in 7 months). I am going away next week (caravan park) and am wondering whether to take the test kit with me.

Pros - keep my compliance high, avoid the follow up texts and emails, and do the socially responsible thing

Cons - seems to take the joy out of being on holiday, and risks testing positive while there; spoiling the holiday and raising issues about deep cleaning the caravan/travelling home while isolating etc

I'm not asking people what I should do (I think I know what I will do!), I'm just curious what others would do.

OP posts:
Smarshian · 08/07/2021 20:47

In your situation I wouldn’t bother. We did some on our holiday last week as DH found out that someone he works with had tested positive that he had seen on his last working day (although he wasnt classed as a close contact).

kitkat463 · 08/07/2021 20:48

I work in an organisation where tests are mandatory too, we've been told we have to keep testing during annual leave, although not sure they could legally enforce it. I test during holidays.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 08/07/2021 20:50

I’d just do one the night before your first shift back.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 08/07/2021 22:07

Teacher here. We were asked to keep going through Easter holidays and half term, and report on NHS website, but only tell school of positives or the last negative before we went back.

I expect I'll be testing over the summer so I feel a bit safer visiting my parents and inlaws.

Lemonmelonsun · 08/07/2021 22:12

I I've started to test myself more because I've been out and about more than than usual and cases are exploding again.

By the way where do we get lateral flow test from

welshweasel · 08/07/2021 22:13

LFTs are not mandatory in the NHS, whatever they may try to tell you. I wouldn’t take one.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 08/07/2021 22:18

By the way where do we get lateral flow test from

Boots, other chemists, test centres, by post.

not mandatory in the NHS

Not mandatory for us either, but we get hassled if we don't do them.

RestingFace · 08/07/2021 22:23

Yes - keep shoving the sticks.

If it is positive you should go home straight away - no service stations or anything. I presume you have an "unclean" sign to hang on your door for 2 weeks?

BoaCunstrictor · 08/07/2021 22:31

Not a fucking chance. I might perhaps lie though.

SouthOfFrance · 09/07/2021 00:10

How do they know you've taken one? Do you just fill in an online form saying 'negative' ? If so can't you just pretend?

sleepwouldbenice · 09/07/2021 00:46

Yes I would and do. It’s hardly a hassle

Original poster
Donatella · 09/07/2021 06:56

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

By the way where do we get lateral flow test from

Boots, other chemists, test centres, by post.

not mandatory in the NHS

Not mandatory for us either, but we get hassled if we don't do them.

Exactly. Legally they aren't mandatory, but our Chief Exec has made it very clear that she feels it is our professional responsibility to keep our patients safe and that questions will be asked if we don't do them. In reality, there doesn't seem to be any real comeback from not doing it apart from the emails and texts, but you definitely get hassle for not doing it.
OP posts:
Original poster
Donatella · 09/07/2021 06:57

@SouthOfFrance

How do they know you've taken one? Do you just fill in an online form saying 'negative' ? If so can't you just pretend?
Yes, just fill in an online form, but lying would be a breach of my professional code of conduct so isn't an option for me, regardless of whether anyone would find out.
OP posts:
BoaCunstrictor · 09/07/2021 07:02

@SouthOfFrance

How do they know you've taken one? Do you just fill in an online form saying 'negative' ? If so can't you just pretend?
Yes and yes
AfternoonToffee · 09/07/2021 08:44

I have to do twice weekly tests, at first they said we had to do them when on annual leave, but later backtracked to only having to do it the day before we were back in work.

Dilbertian · 09/07/2021 08:48

Of course you can pretend, but you clearly do not like that.

Please test, even if the result may cause you inconvenience. I'm also a keyworker, and LF testing has caught 5 pre-symptomatic cases among our staff at the end of their holidays, meaning that we have not had to shut down any part of our service at all over the pandemic.

foobio · 09/07/2021 08:55

"Risk testing positive while there" the whole point of the testing is to have early visibility of positive cases, it is much better to find out sooner that you are positive while it can be nipped in the bud without you spreading it. Wouldn't you feel terrible if you got a positive when you got home and considered all the others that you could have in unknowingly infected? Would the accommodation then have to cancel the next person's booking to do a deep clean?

Morally I'd continue doing the tests, and wish more of the general population were, rather than just those required to by work. Would save a lot of spread and contact tracing and isolation upheaval.

Original poster
Donatella · 09/07/2021 09:20

For those who want me to test, yes I am going to, its the right thing to do, I was just curious what others thought. I don't like having to do it as it feels like work is intruding on my annual leave, but we are all having to do lots of things we'd rather not at the moment!

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 09/07/2021 09:23

@BoaCunstrictor

Not a fucking chance. I might perhaps lie though.
This - just complete the online form to say you're negative if your employer will otherwise hassle you. They're well known to be inaccurate anyway.
Dilbertian · 09/07/2021 09:23

@Donatella

For those who want me to test, yes I am going to, its the right thing to do, I was just curious what others thought. I don't like having to do it as it feels like work is intruding on my annual leave, but we are all having to do lots of things we'd rather not at the moment!
I entirely agree with you. But there we have it - it's what we need to do at the moment. 🤷🏻‍♀️
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 09/07/2021 09:44

No I wouldn't. I don't have to do them for work so don't do them anyway but I wouldn't be impressed if they started telling me what to do on my annual leave!

Primrose82 · 09/07/2021 10:23

I wouldn't on holiday tbh and if you are well.

Notwavingbutdrowing3 · 09/07/2021 10:36

@Donatella

For those who want me to test, yes I am going to, its the right thing to do, I was just curious what others thought. I don't like having to do it as it feels like work is intruding on my annual leave, but we are all having to do lots of things we'd rather not at the moment!
I wouldn't test on holiday. I would test when I got back

I'd work are contacting you whilst you are away you can feel free to ignore it (unless they are letting you know to isolate as someone in office is positive)

ifonly4 · 09/07/2021 10:42

We chose to do LFTs when we were away half term as we felt it was the right thing to do. We knew we'd be passing people on the stairs, and would be spending a lot of time eating out in cafes and pubs, going into shops, then stopping off at services on way back.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 09/07/2021 10:44

I am NHS and do twice weekly tests but mine are saliva LAMP tests which are processed in a lab so I can't do mine when on leave if away from home.

If I were in your shoes doing LFTs I probably wouldn't test while on holiday but would test on return before going back to work.